1. Public & Collaborative Services: Case Study
Trade School New York
http://tradeschool.ourgoods.org/about/
Description
Trade School celebrates practical wisdom, mutual respect, and the social nature of
exchange. Trade School demonstrates that value is subjective, and that New Yorkers
ARE interested in supporting one another. Where else will you find a teacher’s
knowledge (the class) right next to the teacher’s wish list (the barter items)? Trade
School is a small part of the solidarity economy- economic practices that reinforce
values of mutualism, cooperation, social justice, democracy, and ecological
sustainability. I hope Trade School allows mutual respect to emerge between people.
With mutual respect, anything is possible. An informal learning exchange based on the
barter system.
Citizen Role
Teachers, organizers and students.
Public Role
Trade School has been asked to present at public organizations, universities and
museums. These entities support through exposure.
Degrees of Involvement
Below are a few examples of why people can get involved. As student, organizer or teacher.
Louise Ma: I'm interested in an open forum where theoretical and technical investigations can co-
exist, where low-brow and high-concept can cross-pollinate. I'm for an environment where people
are brought together by the passionate interests they share with their peers.
Saul Melman:
Team Topic: Janet, Q, Aly, Nelson

2. Public & Collaborative Services: Case Study
Service Diagram
Team Topic: Janet, Q, Aly, Nelson

3. Public & Collaborative Services: Case Study
Enabling Systems
Trade School is based on the barter for instruction system. From the website:
How much work is it?
The first time (2010), everyone contributed time and materials to support the
communities that value cooperation over competition. Rich Watts bartered design work
for GrandOpening's storefront space and help conceptualizing Trade School. Louise Ma
Team Topic: Janet, Q, Aly, Nelson

4. Public & Collaborative Services: Case Study
and Rich Watts designed the website and Caroline Woolard coordinated with teachers to
make the class schedule. We made a weatherproof flag, bucket furniture, hook-filled
shelving, and a huge chalkboard. Incredibly rigorous, creative thinkers gave time to
Trade School from day one.
This time (2011), we wanted to open Trade School for longer than a month, and needed
to raise money to pay for rent because we couldn’t find anyone who would barter with us
for a three month rental in Manhattan. We raised money on Kickstarter, and after a LOT
of searching and discussion with various venues, we were approached by Old School at
32 Prince. It’s an old classroom in Nolita, so it’s perfect. Saul Melman joined our team as
well, helping to coordinate and conceptualize the project. We also have a handful of
generous volunteers, and more enthusiastic teachers and students than ever.
Role of Digital Environment
Their web-site is a way for Trade School to get the word out, promote their goals,
schedule classes and to call for volunteers. They have also used sites such as Kick-
Starter to help fund and support Trade School.
Background / History
The service started in 2010. From the founders of Our Goods: OurGoods.org is a barter
network for creative people. Three of the five co-founders of OurGoods jumped at an
opportunity to barter for storefront space in February 2010, and Trade School began. But
Trade School is just one of many possible barter spaces for face to face interaction.
Team Topic: Janet, Q, Aly, Nelson